Sim-card for operation with a terminal of a communication network

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a SIM card for operation with a terminal of a communication network, characterised in being embodied as a telematic SIM card such that only connections to fixed target and/or source addresses may be generated using the terminal.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention pertains to a SIM card for operation with a terminaldevice of a mobil communications network.

2. Discussion of Prior Art

In mobile communication networks, so-called Telematic services are wellknown. Telematic services are basically machine-to-machine connectionsor applications, wherein Telematic applications include vehicle servicesas well as services in machines. The purpose of these applications isbasically to record events and measured data and to regulate and controlcorresponding processes. Moreover, these services are, in general,performed automatically, that is, without human intervention.

Examples of Telematic services in vehicles are:

-   -   Emergency services;    -   Roadside assistance service;    -   Remote control/remote access;    -   Remote vehicle diagnostics;    -   Vehicle tracking; and    -   Vehicle data recording.

Examples of Telematic services in machines are:

-   -   Recording of counter status;    -   Recording of fill levels;    -   Recording of states and controls;    -   Remote diagnostics; and    -   Software download.

The information exchange needed for this service can be accomplishedthrough mobile communication networks.

All of these Telematic services are characterized in that in general thecommunication that takes place is between two fixed communicationpartners. The media used for the transfer can be DTMF, SMS, GSM-CSD,GPRS, and UMTS according to prior art, language, and signaling channels.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A purpose of this invention is to provide a SIM card for operation in aterminal device of a mobile communication network that, in particular,best supports Telematic services.

An important feature of the invention is that the SIM card can onlyestablish connections to fixed destination addresses or can only besolicited by fixed source addresses, or both. It is advantageous thatthe SIM card is designed as a special Telematic SIM card.

The mobile phone subscriber relationship can, for example, be operatedexclusively within a defined virtual private network (VPN). Toaccomplish this, the permissible source-destination relationships arestored in the SIM card or stored in a database in the intelligentnetwork. A communication relationship from and to subscribers outsidethe VPN is fundamentally impossible.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

According to the invention, the necessary administration processes forthe issuance of the Telematic SIM card must be set up, which preferablycan be provided with the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Testing the destination and source addresses in the form of a        phone number, URL (Uniform Resource Locator), or APN (Access        Point Name), with which the Telematic SIM card is allowed to        communicate.    -   2. Tailoring of addresses and numbers thereof; this must be done        both service-specific and country-specific.    -   3. Countrywide availability of this SIM.    -   4. Common functions of a standard SIM (such as call forwarding,        default available service number) must be excluded.    -   5. Simplified billing process.

Through these characteristics, it is guaranteed that these cards can beused only for the service for which they are intended, and from and tothe defined source and destination addresses.

Misuse is prevented this way. Moreover, this SIM card offers thepossibility of implementing other communication services for otherusers.

In a special version, it is also possible to put limits on otherservices that typically are not necessarily understood as Telematikservices. This is done by providing only services that require a fixednumber of addresses.

This limiting of use of the SIM card to defined source and destinationaddresses can be realized using various components in a mobiletransmission chain:

-   -   Via the card;    -   Via the terminal device; and    -   Via the mobile phone network.

The disadvantage of checking the destination and source addresses in theSIM card or in the terminal device is that prior to establishing aconnection, only outgoing connections from the terminal device to thenetwork can be checked for correctness with regard to permissibleaddresses. Incoming connections can be checked for reliability using aso-called CLIP function (Calling Line Identification Presentation) whichis an option in the communication networks, wherein the address(telephone number) of the incoming caller is transferred to the personbeing called. Moreover, hidden within the implementation via theterminal device is a means to cheat since the terminal device's FDNfunctionality (Fix Dialing Number), which limits calls to specificdestination and source addresses, were not implemented error-free by alldevices.

In contrast, it is possible to limit the ability to be reached and tolimit destination addresses in an IN-capable (Intelligent Network)mobile phone network, for example, via CAMEL (Customized ApplicationMobile Enhanced Logic). Essentially, what happens in CAMEL is acombination of GSM and Intelligent Network (IN) technologies. Thefundamental concept of IN for flexible implementation, introduction, andcontrol of services in public networks is based on the separation ofswitching functionalities into basic call switching (Service SwitchingPoint (SSP)) and a centralized service control unit (Service ControlPoint (SCP)), which communicate with the generic Intelligent NetworkApplication Part (INAP) protocol via SS#7. This allows centralized,flexible, and fast introduction of new services. GSM already exhibits afew parallels to the intelligent network. Although neither INterminology nor IN protocol, namely SS#7 INAP, is used in GSM, thestructure of the network corresponds to the philosophy of the IN. Thesubdivision of the GSM mobile network into functional units such as MSCand HLR and the logical use of SS#7 and development of MAP are similarto the subdivision of IN for units that communicate via INAP, such asSSP and SCP. The philosophy of CAMEL is to structure serviceimplementations in GSM similar to the process in IN.

In this embodiment of the invention, the addresses solicited by theterminal device are first checked within the network regarding theirreliability. This technology also allows incoming connections to bechecked for reliability prior to the actual connection establishment.

Here, it is recommended that the assignment of customer profiles andtheir associated services be maintained with the allowed destination andsource addresses through corresponding databases.

The range of subscriber relationship options, which was previouslylimited, can be expanded for third parties and for the billing thereofthrough subscription of these third parties. This means that two or moredifferent users (contractual partners) could use the same SIM cardphysically for incoming and outgoing connections. The use itself isassigned to the respective contractual partner according to theoriginator principle. Thus, according to this principle, multiple SIMcard usage rights are billed and administered.

1-10. (canceled)
 11. A SIM card for operation with a terminal device ofa mobile telecommunication network, comprising: the terminal deviceconfigured to only establish connections to fixed destination or sourceaddresses, or both; the destination and source addresses permissible inconnection with the SIM card are stored in a memory of the SIM card orin a database of the mobile communication network.
 12. The SIM cardaccording to claim 11, wherein said SIM card is designed as a TelematicSIM card.
 13. The SIM card according to claim 11, wherein thedestination and source addresses are phone numbers, URLs (UniformResource Locator) or APN's (Access Point Name).
 14. The SIM cardaccording to claim 12, wherein the destination and source addresses arephone numbers, URLs (Uniform Resource Locator) or APN's (Access PointName).
 15. The SIM card according to claim 11, wherein the SIM card onlysupports defined telecommunication services.
 16. The SIM card accordingto claim 12, wherein the SIM card only supports definedtelecommunication services.
 17. The SIM card according to claim 13,wherein the SIM card only supports defined telecommunication services.18. The SIM card according to claim 14, wherein the SIM card onlysupports defined telecommunication services.
 19. The SIM card accordingto claim 11, wherein the mobile phone subscriber relationship associatedwith the SIM card can only be operated within a defined virtual privatenetwork (VPN).
 20. The SIM card according to claim 12, wherein themobile phone subscriber relationship associated with the SIM card canonly be operated within a defined virtual private network (VPN).
 21. TheSIM card according to claim 13, wherein the mobile phone subscriberrelationship associated with the SIM card can only be operated within adefined virtual private network (VPN).
 22. The SIM card according toclaim 14, wherein the mobile phone subscriber relationship associatedwith the SIM card can only be operated within a defined virtual privatenetwork (VPN).
 23. The SIM card according to claim 15, wherein themobile phone subscriber relationship associated with the SIM card canonly be operated within a defined virtual private network (VPN).
 24. TheSIM card according to claim 11, wherein the SIM card encompasses morethan one different subscriber relationship, wherein the use of the SIMcard is assigned according to the originator principle to the respectivesubscriber relationship.
 25. The SIM card according to claim 12, whereinthe SIM card encompasses more than one different subscriberrelationship, wherein the use of the SIM card is assigned according tothe originator principle to the respective subscriber relationship. 26.The SIM card according to claim 13, wherein the SIM card encompassesmore than one different subscriber relationship, wherein the use of theSIM card is assigned according to the originator principle to therespective subscriber relationship.
 27. The SIM card according to claim14, wherein the SIM card encompasses more than one different subscriberrelationship, wherein the use of the SIM card is assigned according tothe originator principle to the respective subscriber relationship. 28.The SIM card according to claim 15, wherein the SIM card encompassesmore than one different subscriber relationship, wherein the use of theSIM card is assigned according to the originator principle to therespective subscriber relationship.
 29. The SIM card according to claim16, wherein the SIM card encompasses more than one different subscriberrelationship, wherein the use of the SIM card is assigned according tothe originator principle to the respective subscriber relationship. 30.The SIM card according to claim 11, wherein the SIM card supports otherservices that are typically not understood to be Telematic services. 31.The SIM card according to claim 12, wherein the SIM card supports otherservices that are typically not understood to be Telematic services. 32.The SIM card according to claim 13, wherein the SIM card supports otherservices that are typically not understood to be Telematic services. 33.The SIM card according to claim 14, wherein the SIM card supports otherservices that are typically not understood to be Telematic services. 34.The SIM card according to claims 15, wherein the SIM card supports otherservices that are typically not understood to be Telematic services. 35.A process of limited use of a mobile telecommunications network by aterminal device, the process comprising: using a SIM card in theterminal device; said card only allowing connections by means of saidcard only to fixed destination or source addresses, or both; wherein thedestination and source addresses permissible in connection with the SIMcard are stored in a memory of the SIM card or in a database of themobile communication network.